William bixbt



(No Modem W; BIXBY & A. BROOKS.

Stretcher for Carpet Cleaners.

No. 235,848. Patented Dec.28,188O,

N. FEYERS, PKOTOLITHOGEAFHER. WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES lhrrrnvr OFFICE.

WILLIAM BIXBY, OF SYRACUSE, AND ASA BROOKS, OF BlNGHAMTO'N, N.

STRETCH ER FOR CARPET-CLEANERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,848, dated December 28, 1880,

Application filed May 4,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM BIXBY, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and ASA BROOKS, of Binghamton, in the county of Broome, and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in St-retchers for Oarpet Cleaners; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The drawing is a representation of a perspective view of my improved machine.

This invention has relation to improvements in mechanisms for stretching carpets and other fabrics, so that the dust may be readily beaten out of the same and they may be readily cleaned and dried.

The nature of the invention consists in certain novel combinations of devices used, as hereinafter fully shown and described.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates clamps composed each of a grooved bar, a, and atongued bar, 6, between which the ends of the carpet or other fabric are placed. These clamps are considerably longer than the width of the fabric to be cleaned, and the bars a b are thrust together, thus griping the carpet between by means of set-screws or other suitable devices.

0 indicates standards of suitable length, having on theirupper ends the loops 0, formed of metal, and of a size to fit snugly over the ends of the clamps, as shown in the drawing. These standards support the clamps and raise them to a sufficient height from the ground to prevent the fabric from sagging into contact therewith.

The grooved bar a is provided on its edge with strong metallic eyes 0, arranged at suitable distances apart,for en gagementwith hooks d, upon theends of guy or stay ropes D. These are usually provided with rings 1 upon their remaining ends.

The device is set up in a room or on the ground by first placing one of the clamps in an upright position, and staying or guying it bymeans of the ropes D, which are secured to the ground or floor by means of pins 0, passing through the rings 4. The fabric griped by the clamps is then stretched out to its full length, the remaining clamp A set upright and, the fabric being stretched as much as possible, guyed or stayed by means of similar ropes and pins D c. This preliminary stretching, which is not usually sulficient to make the fabric tense enough, is supplemented by a second and final stretching by means of a Windlass, G, supported by a stand, J, having a broad base, L, secured to the ground or floor by the hook-pinsf. This Windlass is located in line with the center eyes of the clamps, and the hook h on the end of the winding-rope N is engaged with one of said eyes. The winding-drum is operated by means of a crank, l, and acts upon the clamp to which its rope N is attached to draw it away forcibly from the other clamp, thus stretching the fabric and putting it in proper condition for beating out the dust and for being cleaned and dried.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The carpetstretching device consisting of the clamps A, designed to hold the ends of the carpet, and composed of the grooved bar a and tongued bar I), the standards 0, having loops 0, adapted to be passed over the ends of said bars, and the guy-ropesD D, detachably secured to the bars a and pinned to the ground or floor, substantially as specified.

2. In a carpet-stretcher, the combination, with the clamps A, consisting of the tonguebar I) and grooved bar 01 the standards 0, having end loops, 0, passing ontothe ends of said bars, and the detachable guys D D, of the Windlass Gr and winding-rope N, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the grooved bara and the tongued bar I), clamped together on the carpet ends, of the standards 0, having end loops, 0, passing over the ends of said bars and holding them together, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the above we hay e hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BIXBY. ASA BROOKS. Witnesses:

NERI PINE, Gnonen M. DECKER. 

